The New Indian Express ·
Politics
DMK first off mark, names candidates for bypolls
CHENNAI: The opposition DMK on Wednesday announced its candidates for the bypolls to Maduranthakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) Assembly seats.
Advocate I Paranthamen, joint secretary of the DMK legal wing and a former MLA, will contest from the Madurantakam constituency, while advocate S Suganya, who hails from a long-standing Dravidian family, has been fielded from Dharapuram. K Sethu Selvam will be the party candidate for the bypoll to Thattanchavady seat in Puducherry.
Speaking to reporters at Anna Arivalayam, Paranthamen said the party was confident of winning both seats. “Both constituencies may not have been DMK’s strongholds, but after October 6, they will become DMK’s forts.”
Paranthamen completed his law degree at the Dr Ambedkar Government Law College in Chennai and began his career as an advocate in the Madras High Court. Drawn to the DMK’s ideology, he became active in the party’s legal wing. He contested the 2021 Assembly election from the reserved Egmore constituency in Chennai and was elected as an MLA for the first time.
Paranthamen was not renominated from his constituency and party sources had alleged that he was denied ticket because of former minister PK Sekar Babu. Paranthamen had alleged that former minister PK Sekar Babu was a key reason behind DMK president MK Stalin’s defeat from the Kolathur in the Assembly election, triggering considerable debate within the party and political circles at the time.
Suganya, who holds MA and BL degrees, hails from Thalavaipattinamin Dharapuram and has been active in the DMK’s women’s wing. Her husband serves as the deputy organiser of the DMK youth wing in Dharapuram West Union.
Meanwhile, the AIADMK is likely to announce its candidates for both constituencies on Thursday. On Wednesday, AIADMK senior functionaries, including KP Munusamy, called on IJK founder TR Paarivendhar and sought his support. The leaders are likely to seek the support of AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran.
